“Wouldn’t it be better than not to have any wedding, Polly?” asked the little doctor slowly, and looking at her with his small keen eyes.
“Oh, dear me! yes, of course,” cried poor Polly in horror, and feeling as if the whole world were going awry just then. Not to have a beautiful wedding, such as Phronsie ought to have, just such an one as Polly had planned, oh, so many times in her heart, for the pet of the family! She drew away, and her eyes filled with tears despite all her efforts.
Doctor Fisher paused a moment to give her time to recover herself, and looked very grave. “A big wedding isn’t the best of all blessings,” he said; “and I don’t believe but what Phronsie would prefer the quiet one—your mother thinks so.”
“Does Mamsie think Phronsie better be married here?” asked Polly, feeling as if everybody were deserting her.
“She surely does, Polly,” said the little doctor. “Well, I looked to you to influence Mr. King—but say no more,” as the others crowded around.
Mamsie! oh, when Polly found herself in the dear arms, and felt the dear eyes upon her, she seized Jasper’s hand. “O Jasper, we’ll never let her go again,” she cried, “in all this world!”
“Oh, when Polly found herself in the dear arms, and felt the dear eyes upon her.”
But amidst the happiness of all being together again, Polly carried around with her a heavy heart. She knew that the little doctor was disappointed in her; and somehow, when she saw the dear Mamsie again, she felt that this disapproval was shared by the one, whom, next to Jasper, she loved the best in the world. And in amongst all the delight with which the whole bunch of Peppers revolved around Phronsie, there was a little feeling of bitterness creeping up in Polly’s heart, that Phronsie herself was pining for something more that they must give her.
Jasper found Polly so. “What is it, dear?”